Playa del Coco, Costa Rica 🇨🇷
#1593
,
Nomad Score:
68%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to other Costa Rican beach towns; some imported goods and dining out can be pricier.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
63%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are reasonable but can spike during high tourist seasons; options range from budget to mid-range.
🍎 Food & Groceries
75%
Weight: 40
Local produce is affordable; imported goods and dining in tourist areas are more expensive.
🚌 Transportation Cost
80%
Weight: 20
Public buses and local taxis are inexpensive; car rentals moderately priced.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
68%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are available but somewhat limited; prices are moderate.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
60%
Weight: 10
Gyms exist but are fewer and more basic compared to larger cities; membership fees are moderate.
💱 Currency Stability
79%
Weight: 30
Costa Rican colón is relatively stable with low inflation rates.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
72%
Weight: 100
Decent internet speeds with fiber available in town; occasional outages during storms.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
55%
Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces; mostly small, local setups rather than large professional hubs.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
78%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer free WiFi with decent speeds, popular among digital nomads.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
70%
Weight: 30
A handful of cafes cater to remote workers with power outlets and good seating.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
62%
Weight: 100
Growing but still a niche destination compared to other Costa Rican cities like Tamarindo or Santa Teresa.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
85%
Weight: 30
Relaxed beach town vibe promotes a healthy work-life balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
87%
Weight: 15
Clean beaches and natural surroundings; good environmental conservation efforts.
🧼 Cleanliness
73%
Weight: 10
Generally clean public areas and streets, though some tourist spots can get littered.
🗨️ Language Barrier
54%
Weight: 30
Spanish is dominant; English is spoken in tourist and expat communities but limited elsewhere.
💨 Air Quality
89%
Weight: 15
Excellent air quality due to coastal location and low industrial activity.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
70%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare facilities available locally; more advanced care requires travel to larger cities.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
78%
Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are affordable compared to North America and Europe.
🏥 Healthcare
71%
Weight: 20
Sufficient for minor issues; serious medical cases require travel to San José.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
86%
Weight: 80
Warm tropical climate with a distinct dry season; occasional rain during wet season.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
60%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk of earthquakes and tropical storms; no major recent disasters.
🏞️ Green Spaces
83%
Weight: 10
Abundant natural parks and beaches; lush tropical vegetation.
❄️ Air Conditioning
65%
Weight: 15
Many accommodations have AC but not universal; fans are common.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
32%
Weight: 10
Tropical climate with minimal seasonal variation; mostly wet and dry seasons.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
74%
Weight: 20
Rich Costa Rican culture with local festivals and traditions; strong indigenous and Afro-Caribbean influences.
🌃 Nightlife
58%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; mostly bars and small clubs catering to tourists.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
91%
Weight: 15
Excellent access to beaches, hiking, wildlife tours, and water sports.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
60%
Weight: 10
Some Spanish language schools and informal opportunities available.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
80%
Weight: 10
Wide range of eco-tours, fishing, surfing, and cultural experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
45%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options; mostly small bars and restaurants.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
72%
Weight: 25
Good variety of local and international cuisine; seafood is a highlight.
🧠 Yoga Studios
67%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios and wellness centers available.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
60%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms and outdoor fitness options; no large fitness chains.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
75%
Weight: 15
Fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood widely available; organic options growing.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
84%
Weight: 20
Central Standard Time (UTC-6) aligns well with North American and some South American time zones.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
53%
Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events; informal meetups occasionally organized.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
40%
Weight: 20
Local job market is small; most remote jobs come from outside the region.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
48%
Weight: 20
Small but growing freelance community; limited local support infrastructure.
🏢 Coworking Quality
50%
Weight: 30
Basic coworking spaces with essential amenities; not highly developed.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
35%
Weight: 15
Minimal startup activity; more focused on tourism and local services.
💳 Local Payment Services
62%
Weight: 10
Cash widely used; credit cards accepted in many places; mobile payments growing slowly.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
40%
Weight: 15
Limited adoption; some interest but infrastructure and regulation lag behind.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
57%
Weight: 30
Nearest major airport is Liberia International Airport (~1 hour away) with regional and some international flights.
🚇 Public Transit
55%
Weight: 20
Limited local bus routes; no rail system; taxis and shuttles common.
🚶 Walkability
68%
Weight: 20
Town center is walkable; outskirts require transport.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
45%
Weight: 15
Limited presence of Uber and similar services; taxis more common.
🚲 Cycling
50%
Weight: 10
Some cycling possible but infrastructure is limited and roads can be busy.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
60%
Weight: 15
Buses connect to other cities; private shuttles available but can be costly.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
70%
Weight: 10
Scooter and bike rentals are available and popular for short distances.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
75%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage throughout the town and surrounding areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
80%
Weight: 20
VPN services work reliably with minimal restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
70%
Weight: 15
Generally stable electricity; occasional outages during storms.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
65%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in some cafes and public areas but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
78%
Weight: 40
Tourist visa is easy to obtain; stays up to 90 days allowed without much hassle.
📊 Tax Friendliness
60%
Weight: 30
Costa Rica has moderate tax rates; no specific digital nomad tax incentives.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
87%
Weight: 15
Strong protections for freedom of speech and press.
🏛️ Political Stability
79%
Weight: 20
Stable democracy with low levels of political unrest.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
50%
Weight: 15
Opening bank accounts can be bureaucratic and requires local residency or significant documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
55%
Weight: 10
Business registration is possible but involves paperwork and some delays.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
70%
Weight: 35
Costa Rica offers a digital nomad visa allowing stays up to 1 year with proof of income.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
68%
Weight: 50
Friendly community with growing amenities but still developing infrastructure.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
52%
Weight: 25
Occasional meetups and events; no large-scale regular gatherings.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
60%
Weight: 20
Moderate online presence with active Facebook groups and forums.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
70%
Weight: 100
Generally safe for tourists and nomads; petty crime exists but violent crime is low.
♀️ Female Friendly
72%
Weight: 50
Safe and welcoming environment for women; some cultural conservatism in rural areas.
✊ Racial Tolerance
75%
Weight: 50
Costa Rica is generally tolerant and diverse; some occasional discrimination reported but not widespread.